Turkey ammo review: Winchester Long Beard XR & Carlson's LB turkey choke

[Squadron303]

I always look to the internet for these types of reviews, so I thought I would document and post up my own experience for once. Here's what I used:

Ammo: Winchester Long Beard XR 12 gauge, 3.5" shells of 2oz #5 shot
Gun: Benelli Super Black Eagle 2 - 28" barrel with bead sights (front & mid)
Choke: Carlson's Crio System, designed for the Long Beard XR (Winchester) ammunition, with a .665 turkey choke constriction

All shots were taken from sitting, with the front of the barrel supported on a monopod.



Backstory: Last year I patterned my gun at 30 & 50 yards. The 3.5" shells are punishing on the shoulder, so I didn't pattern at closer ranges. I was confident that I had the correct set up. The hunt was set for opening day. I set up my decoys at 30 yards, where the birds fly down from the roost. After some gobbling in the trees, the birds flew down as expected. I had a big tom come in to approx. 10 yards in front of me. I aimed at his head, took the shot, and to my (and my hunting buddy's) surprise and horror - I MISSED!. The bird flew away (in terror, I'm sure). I could not explain it, other than the fact the choke was so tight the whole ball of shot flew over the tom's head. So this year I patterned my gun at 15, 25, and 50 yards. Here are the results:

15 yards - aiming at head (this is what must have happened last year)



15 yards - aiming lower on the neck


25 yards


25 yards


50 yards


50 yards (aim was off slightly to the right)



So there it is. The 50 yard targets don't have the advertised number of pellets inside the 10" circle, but I'm satisfied anyways. It's a long way to 50 yards - at that point the barrel & front bead almost completely cover the paper target. Seeing as you only need about 3 shots to the vitals (brain, spinal column), this ammo and choke will do the job.

The two 50 yard targets are life-sized, correctly scaled and printed to size. The others are 10% smaller on paper, but you get the idea of the pattern and spread of the shot.

 

[4n2t0]

Something's off...

You aim for the head at 15 yards and it's high but then you aim for the middle of the neck at 15 yards and you're dead on or a little low? Hmmm...

 

[Squadron303]

Something's off...

You aim for the head at 15 yards and it's high but then you aim for the middle of the neck at 15 yards and you're dead on or a little low? Hmmm...

It's point of aim. The first 15 yard shot was aimed at top of head, the second right where it hit.

 

[cdn1canhunt]

I set my gun up so that I aim where the feathers meet the neck skin. Helps to prevent the over the head shots especially when they have the tendency to bob that head up and down. Nice review, looks like tom turkey will be in big trouble at 50yrds in your woodlot!
Those longboard XR's have been pretty awesome for turkey killin

Good luck this season

 

[1duckslayer]

They taught that at the coarse not to aim at the head but at the neck (waddle). If you had aimed at the waddle you would of had a dead bird last year but I suspect maybe a bit of turkey fever kicked in .........lol. Your first target at 15yds still has 4 pellets in the brain......that's a dead bird!! Maybe the adrenaline had you aiming a bit higher yet!


Anyways you have a nice pattern with your shell/choke combo, good luck this spring!! (and aim strait.......lol)

 

[Squadron303]

They taught that at the coarse not to aim at the head but at the neck (waddle). If you had aimed at the waddle you would of had a dead bird last year but I suspect maybe a bit of turkey fever kicked in .........lol. Your first target at 15yds still has 4 pellets in the brain......that's a dead bird!! Maybe the adrenaline had you aiming a bit higher yet!


Anyways you have a nice pattern with your shell/choke combo, good luck this spring!! (and aim strait.......lol)

Yeah, you're right.. I'd say the adrenaline of a Tom coming in that close had something to do with it
Thanks

 

[hunter148]

Mine does the exact same thing and I have missed my share of birds over the years because of it. Winchester 3.5, 2 oz, #6 with an undertaker choke. These turkey loads do not shoot that flat

MY golden rule is within 20 yds aim where the feathers meet the neck cause that golf ball pattern will bite your butt every time. Beyond 20, head right on, past 40 top of the noggin. Now remembering that in the heat of the moment can be challenging sometimes LOL

 

[Squadron303]

Mine does the exact same thing and I have missed my share of birds over the years because of it. Winchester 3.5, 2 oz, #6 with an undertaker choke. These turkey loads do not shoot that flat

MY golden rule is within 20 yds aim where the feathers meet the neck cause that golf ball pattern will bite your butt every time. Beyond 20, head right on, past 40 top of the noggin. Now remembering that in the heat of the moment can be challenging sometimes LOL

Good advise, thanks. That's along the lines of what I was thinking too.

This set up was new to me last year. In fact, life got in the way last year and I only got to pattern the gun the evening before the hunt. I never really got to see the range of patterns across different distances. Not only that, my shoulder was tenderized for the next day's hunt.

 

[dutchhunter]

I always shoot for the waddle. We're the feathers meet the skin. If you are trying to aim at the head uou will loose sight of the bird

 

[4n2t0]

It's point of aim. The first 15 yard shot was aimed at top of head, the second right where it hit.

I was confused because you said "aiming at head" not "top of head". Why would you aim at the top of the head? LMAO.

Anyways...as others have already suggested make sure you aim at the base of the neck.

Good luck this year!

 

[Squadron303]

I was confused because you said "aiming at head" not "top of head". Why would you aim at the top of the head? LMAO.

Anyways...as others have already suggested make sure you aim at the base of the neck.

Good luck this year!

I was so sure I would get it in the head because it was so close! I guess part of me thought it would make for a nice shot, as well keeping the rest of the bird shot-free. Live and learn.. What's that saying, "worst day in the field is still better than the best day at work"?

Thanks, you too. I hope to report on how the ammo does on a real bird.

 

[hunter148]

I always shoot for the waddle. We're the feathers meet the skin. If you are trying to aim at the head uou will loose sight of the bird

That is why I love my 42mm Red dot. The dot has a lot of room to move, is not much bigger than a head at 40 yds and I get to keep both eyes on the job. Only thing I don't like about it is the birds seem smaller through the glass in low light which results in a bird closer than expected sometimes.

 

[4n2t0]

I hope to report on how the ammo does on a real bird.

It performs well. I used 3" LB's last season to take 2 toms in the spring. I took one bird at 35 yards and it dropped right on the spot.

 

[4n2t0]

That is why I love my 42mm Red dot. The dot has a lot of room to move, is not much bigger than a head at 40 yds and I get to keep both eyes on the job. Only thing I don't like about it is the birds seem smaller through the glass in low light which results in a bird closer than expected sometimes.

I like using a red dot as well. I've got a cheap TRS-25 on my Mossberg 930 and it gets the job done.

 

[hunter148]

Bought mine some 18 years ago, one of the blister pack red dots, for $20 and it has lasted with nothing but 3.5" through the gun. I have one on a Sinsinati 20ga pump that accounted for 2 birds last year. Never thought I would be chasing turkeys with a 18" 20ga using a imp cyl choke and Hornaday Versatite loads but hey it patterns just as tight as the 3.5" 870 above just doesn't have the range past 40. I learned a good lesson last year that a turkey gun does not have to be choked down to make the pellets come out single file. Before I would have been the first to call BS but now...not so much. Some of the shells are designed for open chokes. Put some of these Hornaday's through a tight choke and they are crap, open them up and be amazed, I was.

 

[Squadron303]

Bought mine some 18 years ago, one of the blister pack red dots, for $20 and it has lasted with nothing but 3.5" through the gun. I have one on a Sinsinati 20ga pump that accounted for 2 birds last year. Never thought I would be chasing turkeys with a 18" 20ga using a imp cyl choke and Hornaday Versatite loads but hey it patterns just as tight as the 3.5" 870 above just doesn't have the range past 40. I learned a good lesson last year that a turkey gun does not have to be choked down to make the pellets come out single file. Before I would have been the first to call BS but now...not so much. Some of the shells are designed for open chokes. Put some of these Hornaday's through a tight choke and they are crap, open them up and be amazed, I was.

I bought some Hornady Turkey shells a few years ago for my now-gone 870 and they were terrible with a turkey choke. Gun is since gone, but I have heard the same, to shoot them through an opened choke. I still have a few shells, I'll need to try that out.